Winter storm blamed for one-day pay delay for Burton city workers

BURTON, MI – This week's winter storm is being blamed for a one-day pay delay for Burton city workers.

Burton Mayor Paula Zelenko said the delay was a combination of the weather, the holiday and the city's payroll clerk being on
bereavement.

"In case some folks missed it, there was some pretty
significant weather that made travel impossible for some people. Several
employees could not make it into work due to the weather on Monday and Tuesday
in order to submit their payroll information to the payroll clerk," Zelenko
said in an email.

"The payroll paperwork could not be completed in such a
short time once everyone submitted their information and the payroll clerk
returned to work on Wednesday for a Thursday release of funds and direct
deposits. This resulted in direct deposits being delayed one day. Direct
deposits will hit (Friday). The accusation that the city couldn't make payroll
is absurd and false," Zelenko said in the email.

City Councilman Danny Wells said the missed payroll
was the first in the city's history.

Wells said he started getting calls from employees on
Wednesday and then again on Thursday about missing payroll. However, as of
Friday afternoon, Wells said he hadn't received any more calls from city
employees.

"We've had computer glitches in the past," Wells said. "They've
always had a plan B. For whatever reason this time around they didn't make it."

Reporter Roberto
Acosta contributed to this story.

Dana DeFever can be reached at 810-429-3919 or
ddefever@mlive.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @DanaDeFever or
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